SPC900

[Frank the Troll]

Is it worth using a SPC900  for imaging, what sort of results could you expect?

 

[tooth_dr]

22 minutes ago, Frank the Troll said:

Is it worth using a SPC900  for imaging, what sort of results could you expect?

 

For planetary or lunar it’s will be ‘ok’ but it’s really very outdated. 

[vernmid]

I think it's time has passed. I did my early imaging with one and was pleased at the time (see attached but be kind). But something like an ASI120MC is just leagues better.

If you have one then why not give it a go...nothing to lose 🙂

[Frank the Troll]

11 minutes ago, vernmid said:

I think it's time has passed. I did my early imaging with one and was pleased at the time (see attached but be kind). But something like an ASI120MC is just leagues better.

If you have one then why not give it a go...nothing to lose 🙂

 

 

Worth a play, as its just sitting in the draw and might try it out on the polar scope for sharpcap polar align

The ASI120MC is already on the cards will pass the spc900 on when I get one

 

 

Edited January 15, 2020 by Frank the Troll

[Frank the Troll]

33 minutes ago, tooth_dr said:

For planetary or lunar it’s will be ‘ok’ but it’s really very outdated. 

yep, well past its time, should've sold it when they were selling for silly prices

[tooth_dr]

I'm not sure it will work at all as a polar alignment tool.  I've used one as a guide cam on an 80mm F5 scope  (ST80) and it struggled to pickup stars, and in some areas of the sky eg M51, I couldn't get a guide star.

I still have three of them, one is the original that came in the yellow egg.  I've modified it for LX and also have a mono one that is cooled, and a standard SPC900NC.  I'll hold onto them as relics of the past but the bad news is, then just don't perform any more to the expected standards!

[JamesF]

Yes, I have several lying about waiting for any possible project for which they might be useful.  I'd guess their main value now is as an ultra-cheap planetary imager for people who can't justify the cost of a modern camera.  The days of people paying £100+ for them are long gone.

James

[Frank the Troll]

1 hour ago, tooth_dr said:

I'm not sure it will work at all as a polar alignment tool. 

Oh well, zwo camera it is then, and try it on the sw st80 first before splashing out on a guide scope

Cheers

[Frank the Troll]

1 hour ago, JamesF said:

.  The days of people paying £100+ for them are long gone.

 

Yep, couldnt beleive the prices they were making

[michael8554]

If you Long Exposure modded them they were just about usable for guiding,

Michael

[Frank the Troll]

14 hours ago, michael8554 said:

If you Long Exposure modded them they were just about usable for guiding,

Michael

Mine has been flashed, had it set-up on sharpcap on W10 for a play

[michael8554]

Flashing isn't the same as the Long Exposure mod - search the DIY section for YesYes mod. 

Some imaging software will stack shorter images if you select longer exposure times, but not the same result as a true long exposure. 

Michael 

[Mick J]

1 hour ago, Frank the Troll said:

Mine has been flashed, had it set-up on sharpcap on W10 for a play

Will it run on W10 frank ?

[Frank the Troll]

12 minutes ago, Mick J said:

Will it run on W10 frank ?

Yep runs on Win 10. If you cant see it in shaprcap, goto device manager, select it & update driver

[bottletopburly]

On 15/01/2020 at 11:48, Frank the Troll said:

yep, well past its time, should've sold it when they were selling for silly prices

I sold mine for £80 not bad as I was given it 😁

 

 

Edited January 16, 2020 by bottletopburly

[Frank the Troll]

14 minutes ago, bottletopburly said:

I sold mine for £80 not bad as I was given it 😁

Didnt get round to putting it on fleabay

past time to upgrade now, will be looking for a zwo

 

 

 

[Frank the Troll]

1 hour ago, michael8554 said:

Flashing isn't the same as the Long Exposure mod - search the DIY section for YesYes mod. 

Sorry should've said It was modded, its also fitted with the IR lens

 

Edited January 16, 2020 by Frank the Troll

[Bobby1970]

I managed to grab these of Mars and Saturn way back in 2012 when I just got into the hobby. 

Only used a 90mm Mak on an AltAz goto mount. 

I was well chuffed at the time. 

 

 

 

Edited January 16, 2020 by Bobby1970

[willcastle]

I find it interesting that people are saying the SPC900NC is outdated. Sure it is old, but you can’t argue with results. Here is one of many astonishing images captured by a user on here called olorin. Not only was it on an SPC900NC, he also managed this on a skywatcher explorer 200p!!!!

[willcastle]

Here was my best result with an SPC900NC, also on a skywatcher explorer 200P. It was about 7 years ago, in fairly poor seeing and only about my third attempt at capturing Jupiter. Not as good as Olorin’s but still a picture I was pleased with